Flash-light switch guard



Oct. 16,. 1928. I 1,688,006

C. E. DUISENBERG FLASH LIGHT swI'rcn GUARD Filed Feb. 14, 1927 by WW1.

Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES" CHARLES EDWARD DUISENBERG, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FLASH-LIGHT SWITCH GUARD.

Application filed February 14, 1927. Serial No. "188,080.

My invention relates to improvements in switch guards for pocket flashlights and the like, whereby the inadvertent operating of a flash lightswitch may be prevented.

In carrying electric flash lights, either in the pocket or in a suitcase, automobile side pocket, or otherwise, it frequently happens thatthe switch is inadvertently moved to, turn on the current with theresult that the battery becomes burned out and the flash light is foundto be inoperative and useless when later sought to be placed in service.The primary object of the present invention is therefore to provide aguard arranged to normally shield 1 the switch and prevent theinadvertent operation of the switch, whereby the annoyance andinconvenience can be effectually avoided.

A further object is to provide an improved guard whichwill be neat andcompact and 2 which will not materially alter the appearance or increasethe. bulk of the flash light and switch.

Another object is to provide an improved guard which will be simple inconstruction and operation and which will not alter the construction andnormal operation of the switch. v

A still further object is to provide an improved guard which may bereadily applied upon present flash lights as well as assembled upon newflash lights. 7

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device,disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the-present 1 applicationwherein likecharacters of reference are used to designate similar partsthroughout the specification and drawings,

and in which,

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of a flash light and switch showing myimproved guard applied thereon.

Fig. 2 is a broken planviewof the switch and guard as shown in closedposition Fig. 3 is a view similar'to Fig. 2 showing the guard moved toopen position to permit 7 the operation of the switch.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the flash light casing showinghow the guard is mounted and swung from closed to open position.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section showing a modified form of mounting forthe guard.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate in.general a flash light provided with the usual switch 2 which is arrangedand operated in the well known manner by advancing a slidable switchoperating button 8 to close an electrical connection be tween a batteryand a lamp, not shown. The arrangement and operation of the switch 1swell known in the art and requires no detailed'description herein, otherthan that the contact forming means are mounted within a housing member4 secured upon the surface ofthe flashlight body, and the SllClLblBoperating member 3 is'mounted, upon said memv ti'on6 preferably stampedfrom suitable sheet 7 metal and having extensions 7 and 8 formed uponopposite sides thereof. The body 6'is made of a size adapted tosubstantially enclose the member, 8, said body being preferably' madeconcave upon its'under side and convex upon its upper surface'wherebythe button 3 may be normally received within the concavity upon theunder side of the member 6 and the convex outer surface will prevent themember from forming any appreciable obstruction when the flash light isinserted into a pocket or a close fitting container.

The extension 7 is pivotally connected to a mounting member 9 securedadjacent the switch housing member 4. The opposite extension 8 is shapedto form a latch arranged to engage a retaining lug 11 secured upon theopposite side of the housing 1. The member 9 may be riveted,-soldered,or otherwise secured upon the housing member 4; or upon the casing ofthe flash light and ispreferably arranged to receive a pintle 12 forminga hinge mounting for the member 6. The retaining lug 11 is carried by amember 13 securedin any suitable manner adjacentthe opposite side of thehousingmember 4; whereby the latch extension 8 may serve to normallyhold the member 6 in operative position extending across the button 3 toprevent movement thereof. I

InFig. 5 of the drawings, I have illustrated a slightly modified form ofthe invention wherein a split ring 145 has one end arranged to form thehinge mounting for the member 6, and the lug 11 is formed upon theopposite end of the ring 14, said ring being adapted to be .fittedaround the body of a flash light adjacent the housing member i tofacilitate the application of shield to existing flash lights.

In operation the member 6 is swung downwardly to operative position asshown in full lines in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings, the extension8 latching over the lug 11 to retain the member 6 in closed position. Solong as the guard member 6 is retained in closed position the switchoperating button 3 is thoroughly shielded and the operation of thebutton, either intentionally or unintentionally is prevented. The flashlight may now be carried in any manner without danger of causing theswitch to be closed and the battery wasted.

When it is desired to operate the flash light, the guard is unlatched bymoving the extension 8 outwardly to disengage the lug 11. The guard G isthen swung outwardly upon its hinge mounting as indicated in dottedlines in Figs. 1 and 4., and in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.The button 3 is thus rendered accessible and may be moved to operate theswitch in the usual manner, as by advancing the member 3 from the OHposition indicated in full lines in F 3 to the on position indicated indotted lines in said fig- .ure. When the use of the flash light isdiscontinued, the guard 6 is snapped back to closed position to protectthe switch against inadvertent operation until the flash light is to beused again. i

The guard 6 and its mounting and retaining members are preferablyfinished to conform to the finish of the switch housing 4, therebymaintainingthe ordinary appearance of the flash light. The guard may bereadily ap plied upon. existing flash lights without interfering withthe ordinary operation of the switch. The guard fits closely over theswitch so that the bulk is not appreciably increased, and a neat andattractive appearance maintained. The specific details oi? constructionand arrangement may, of course, be modified in numerous ways to conformto dii'lerent sizes and styles of flashlight. I, therefore, do not wishto restrict myself to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, but dc sire to avail myself of all modifications which mayfall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

The combination with a flash light and switch therefor, of a guardarranged. to normally shield the switch and prevent the inadvertentoperation thereof; a split ring detachably engaging the flash lightadjacent the switch, said ring having one end hingedly connected to theguard and forming a hinge mounting therefor, and the opposite end of thering being arranged to releasably latch the guard in closed position.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my signature.

CHARLES EDWVARD DUISENBERG.

